Southern Baptist leaders have released a statement to lament the assassination of Charlie Kirk and call for justice and peace. Kirk, 31, the president of Turning Point USA and a conservative advocate, was assassinated Sept. 10 as he spoke at an event at Utah Valley University.
“Political violence is a grave sin, and it represents a threat to our nation and its government. The murder of Charlie Kirk is a grave warning to us all as we consider the health of our nation and society,” the statement says.
Kirk’s social media presence was strong. More than 9 million people followed his TikTok account, 5.8 million followed his account on X, and 4.5 million people were subscribed to his YouTube channel. A video from the Utah rally moments before his death had more than 138 million views.
TPUSA has raised up chapters on hundreds of college campuses. Kirk regularly visited college campuses to hold open debates with students. The events drew crowds of hundreds, if not thousands. He was well known for his conversational debate style and inviting those who disagreed with him to move to the front of the line to confront him.
“Christians are rightly grateful for Charlie Kirk’s public witness to Christ and for his courageous defense of the dignity of the unborn and a host of other moral issues. We rightly appreciate the profound impact Charlie Kirk has had on our young people, inspiring them to live with bold conviction and take righteous action,” the statement said.
SBC President Clint Pressley says the statement, which has been endorsed by all 12 SBC entity leaders and SBC First Vice President Daniel Ritchie and Second Vice President Craig Carlisle, is a call for justice in light of a wave of violence in the United States.
“Scripture calls God’s people to hate what is evil and cling to what is good and to do so in the name of the Lord Jesus. We believe this statement is a way we can do that while upholding the gospel,” he said.
The statement is available on the SBC website for pastors and church leaders to sign. “Southern Baptist pastors and leaders are invited to sign the statement and pray for our nation as we commit our gospel work to the Lord,” Pressley said.
— Brandon Porter serves as vice president for communications at the SBC Executive Committee.